How to Transfer a Domain Name to a New Host?

How to Transfer a Domain Name to a New Host

Despite what you might’ve heard, transferring a domain name to a new host isn’t difficult. 

However, domain transfers do take quite a bit of time. 

Here’s why: To transfer a domain name to a new registrar, you need to wait for at least 60 days after purchasing it. 

So, let’s say you bought a domain name from GoDaddy, and after 20 days, you decide to transfer it to a new host.

You’ll have to wait for additional 40 days to initiate the domain transfer to a new domain host.

Plus, your current domain registrar and the new web host will also have to authorize the domain name transfer.

In this post, we’ll tell you how to transfer a domain name from your current registrar to a new hosting platform.

Requirements

So, before jumping in, here are the three most important things you’d need to transfer your domain to a new web host. 

  • A new host 
  • Old registrar dashboard
  • An authorization code

Let’s dive into the step-by-step domain transfer process. 

Transfer a Domain Name to a New Host (Step-by-Step)

1. Pick a New Host (If You Haven’t Already)

Now, if you haven’t picked a hosting service to host your domain one, it’s time you do that.

There are plenty of web hosts you can choose from.

Let’s give you our top two recommendations to make the selection easier.

Click on the plus icon, and you will be able to look at the detailed reviews of our recommended hostings.

Bluehost is at the top of our list, and for good reasons. 

The combination of great uptime, top-notch customer support, and cost-effectiveness make it a no-brainer for most webmasters. 

There’s a small fee (around $12) that you’d have to pay for a domain transfer with Bluehost. 

As a web host, Bluehost offers unmetered bandwidth and a free SSL when you buy their shared hosting plans, which start from $2.95/month. 

Importantly, Bluehost is a WordPress-recommended hosting provider.

HostGator is another great option if you don’t want to transfer your domain to Bluehost. 

The popular web hosting provider offers an impressive 99.99% uptime guarantee and a variety of attractive features. 

Now, this is where HostGator stands out: There’s no domain transfer fee with HostGator.

Plus, you get a year of domain renewal for free.

HostGator’s shared plans start from $2.75/month.

2. Disable Domain Privacy

Now, most registrars provide domain privacy.

Some even offer it for free.

This just means that your domain registrar is protecting your personal information.

They do that by hiding it in the WHOIS database.

Domain privacy typically means that your domain company registers your domain with its own name.

Anyway, before you can start the transfer process, disabling domain privacy is one of the first things you need to do.

After doing that, you’d have to wait for the central registry information to update.

Note: It’s not the best idea to use an email address associated with your domain name when you update your contact information.

Use a third-party email service like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Outlook for that.

3. Unlock Your Domain

Generally, when you buy a domain name, your registrar puts a lock on it.

They do it to prevent unauthorized transfers and protect your:

  • NDS settings
  • Ownership
  • Contact info 

Domain locks also make sure no one can attempt a domain transfer.

This means you’ll have to unlock your domain manually in order to initiate the domain transfer.

The good thing is that there’s nothing difficult in this process.

Just log into the dashboard of your registrar, and look for the button that disables your domain lock.

It’d be fairly easy to locate.

As soon as you click that button, your domain will be unlocked in no time.

4. Request Authorization Code

The next step would be to request the authorization code for the domain transfer from your old registrar.

The option to request an authorization code should be within the same section where you unlocked your domain.

But, why is this code necessary?

Registrars create this code so that they can identify you as the owner of the domain.

Now, most domain companies send this code via email, so keep an eye on your email inbox.

And keep in mind that the code may take about 5 days to reach your inbox.

To avoid any delays, make sure you’ve provided the correct email address.

5. Start the Transfer

Once you request the authorization code and unlock your domain, it’s time to initiate the transfer process with your host.

You’ll then be prompted to enter some information, including the authorization code you got from your register.

Next, your new hosting service will walk you through a few simple steps.

Keep in mind that the process for transferring a domain and registering a new one is different.

So, follow the instructions carefully to make sure you’re going with the transfer.

Then, you’ll get a time frame within which the transfer will happen.

This can be up to 14 days depending on the hosting platform.

You’ll get regular updates on the progress probably from both services.

Moreover, most web hosting platforms charge a small domain transfer fee.

And, you might also be asked to renew your domain with them.

And, of course, the annual renewal costs vary depending on domain extensions (.com, .org, etc.).

Transferring a Domain Name to Bluehost

Transferring a domain name to Bluehost is pretty straightforward.

You’ll have to follow the same method we discussed above:

  • Disable your privacy
  • Unlock the domain
  • Get the authorization code (EPP code)
  • Initiate the transfer (From Bluehost’s control panel)

You’ll then receive a verification code in your email.

Just keep in mind that you can only transfer the following domain name extensions to Bluehost:

  • .com
  • .net
  • .org
  • .info
  • .us
  • .co
  • .biz

The fee Bluehost takes for domain transfers is $12.99 and of course, the annual renewal costs are separate.

HostGator Domain Transfer

You don’t have to pay a fee to transfer your domain to HostGator. 

Plus, your first year with HostGator would be free. 

The transfer process isn’t any different from what you’d do with Bluehost. 

Once you’ve completed the necessary steps, just navigate to HostGator’s domain transfer page. 

After you enter your domain, HostGator will walk you through a few simple pre-transfer steps. 

At the last step, you’ll be required to verify the transfer by entering the authorization code in the verification email HostGator will send you. 

Domain Name Transfer Process: FAQs

How Long Does It Take for a Domain Name to Transfer?

The number of days it takes to transfer a domain from one registrar to another depends on both companies. However, it shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks. It typically takes a few days to receive the authorization code on the provided email address. 

How Much Does a Domain Name Transfer Cost?

How much should you expect to spend on a domain transfer will depend on the web host service you’re shifting to. Typically it doesn’t take more than $15 and could be as low as $10. Plus, you might also be charged the one-year renewal price by your new host, in addition to the renewal price. That said, there are some hosts, like HostGator, who offer free domain transfers.  

What Happens When You Transfer Domain?

When you’re transferring a domain, you’re essentially telling the ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) that you want a different registrar to manage your domains. 

Will Your Website Go Down While Transferring a Domain?

No, there’s typically no downtime while transferring a domain name, especially when the DNS of your domain isn’t managed by the current registrar. 

Do You Need to Transfer Your Domain Name?

Not really. You don’t generally need to transfer a domain name to your hosting provider. You can manage your domain and website files (hosting) with separate companies effectively. However, having a domain name with your hosting provider can help ease the management process. 

Summary

In conclusion, transferring a domain name to a new domain host is pretty straightforward if you follow the right steps. 

First, you need to unlock the domain name and disable domain privacy at your current registrar.

Then, you need to get the authorization code from your current registrar. 

Lastly, just initiate the transfer through an email verification process. 

We hope you found this guide helpful and can now confidently transfer your domain to a new host. 

Leave a Comment